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Carden 37.5% Yak Build

I'm starting this thread for anybody intrested in the Carden Yak 54 37.5%. I have one being built this winter by Eric Watz of Saginaw Michigan. The kit has many mod's and changes to the basic kit. I will list the mod's and then give a listing of the parts used to put this thing togather. Starting out with the kit we traced out and then cut the engine box with lighting cut out as this is nothing new it really helps cut down on weight. The normal cross trussing used in the forward fuse area has been replaced with a top plate that ties the engine box top into the upper deck. The plate is lamiated with Carbon fiber mat that is set wet with West Epoxy and vacuum bagged for good bond depth. Formers from the firewall back are all lightend and then a hand layed fiberglass pipe tunnel was built and fitted into the fuse and tied into the lower firewall. The tunnel is setup for the new MTW RE3 pipes that will be bolted to a new DA 170. The landing gear plate and blocks have been lightened and beefed up at the same time. On the wings We ran a double spar through the wings by routering out the foam top and bottom. On the attach fitting blocks this has been totaly redone by building a block that is notched and has stringers that run back into the foam. By doing this it makes the plane vary strong. I know your thinking weight but when its all done it should be around 37 to 38 pounds and thats with tuned pipes. I will be using the new JR 8711 HV servos all around. This is it for now but pics will follow in Feb.

RE: Carden 37.5% Yak Build

One more week to go and I will be home from Savannah GA. Plane is waiting and pics will follow. Eric has been working on the project and the fuse should be framed up when I get back. Thanks for the intrest in the build Mj77 I'm vary excited to get back and see what Eric has done. He's also building my 40% Carden Edge as well and that thing is trick to but not to this level we are doing on the Yak. I'll get some more pics up on that as well. There are pics of my Extra 260 on the thread Extra 260 on Pipes. You can see the Glass pipe tunnel. The glass tunnels really flow's air good and keep's everything vary cool.

RE: Carden 37.5% Yak Build

No its Carbon kevlar fabric with west epoxy system. Make's a vary light and stiff tunnel that is smooth and flows tons of air. I'll have more pics this weekend with the tunnel installed. Sorry for the slow postings.

RE: Carden 37.5% Yak Build

Here are a few more pics of the first of two Yak's and its pipe tunnel is now installed but needs to be trimed and finshed around the firewall. The top deck on this one is not getting the Carbon Kevlar top just the plywood. Mine is getting the Carbon kevlar bonded to the top deck. You can see my Edge 540 and the Dalton in the pics as well. Notice on the Edge there is NO FOAM in the belly at all. Its all stringer like the real thing. This is kit bashing at its best.

RE: Carden 37.5% Yak Build

Here are a few more shots of Dan Woods airplane. Its getting very close for Monokote. The egine box bottom still needs to be installed around the pipe tunnel. Mine has been delayed a few weeks so I could get my Edge out of the shop this month and also so Dan can have his Yak for the Joe Nall. Dans is set up with a DA 150 on greeves pipe. My yak will be back on the bench in a couple of weeks and more pics will follow on its progress. I'll keep following Dans all the way to the end as well. You can see Dan sprung for the milled gear and is running the Robart p-51 wheels that are very cool looking but add a little weight. They will look nice with the custom wheel spats Eric is making for both Yaks. I will be using the white rose wheels on mine for bling and light weight.

RE: Carden 37.5% Yak Build

Do your self a favor and add a cowl former on top of the engine box flush with the fire wall. Otherwise you will be braking cowl bolts all the time, I know several guys with these yaks who have had the same problem. You'll love the plane !

RE: Carden 37.5% Yak Build

I have never heard about the cowl bolts braking. I have had a Carden 37.5% Yak before this project but lost it last year. It was three years old and never had any problems with the cowl. Do you have any pics of this cowl former? I would like to see it. Sounds like a good idea the cowl is big on this bird. The plane in the pics is one of two thats being built. This one will be at Joe Nall this month. Mine is the second one that is just in the boned up stage more pics to come as mine gets back on the work bench. Should have mine done by June's end or sooner I hope. Thanks for the help. Hey Dan if your reading this thread post the pics you took last weekend at Eric's shop. I didnt get any pics of the monokote work that was going on this last weekend on your plane.

RE: Carden 37.5% Yak Build

Here's my cowl former (or like). This type of cowl is "front" heavy. The brace shown really does help with all the cowl shaking caused by idling engine. There is ZERO slope and ZERO play in the cowl now. It's as if it were connected to the fuse solid. Two of the screws on each side of the cowl (same screws that hold the halves together) go into the stiffner. From the outside it is completely hidden that it's there.

RE: Carden 37.5% Yak Build

That looks like it would work well. There is alot of movement in the cowl on this plane. I will talk to Eric and have him do some formers on my bird. Dan may want it done too but for now his plane is on the fast track to finishing because of the Joe Noll date. This looks like a worth while mod for sure. Thanks guys for the info.

RE: Carden 37.5% Yak Build

I was able to get the plane from Eric to take to the Nall but time constraints did not allow the plane to be completed before the trip south.As it turns out, that was a good thing.Eric Watz got the plane ready to fly in time for me to get a few flights at my local field before rushing off to the Joe Nall but all the graphics were not all applied, the smoke system was not installed and the clear coat on all the painted surfaces was yet to be applied.That would have to wait till’ I get back. I have attached a picture of the near completed plane as it went to the Nall.The reason I say it was a good thing for not being completed, is because of a bad experience I had on the 7th flight.

I was 2 minutes into the flight and decided to do a touch and go.I touched down and the throttle trim was about 2 clicks high so I lowered 2 clicks on the 12x throttle trim and then advanced the throttle to continue back airborne.It sounded like someone shot my plane with a 12 gauge shotgun; the engine backfired and sheared all 6 prop bolts and the spinner bolt.The last thing I did prior to the 6th flight was be sure all the bolts were tight (as well as an airframe shakedown.)The prop went over the right wing (did not quite clear the plane) bit the cowl top and bottom, ripped up $300.00 worth of prop and spinner and the plane never had a chance to leave the ground.After looking at the plane up close, I could not help but smile, 45 seconds earlier or later would have been a very different story.

The good news is the motor went to D.A., Jeff was a big help and Desert Aircraft turned it around in one day and is on its way back with a new prop and spinner as I type this post.Eric has the plane almost repaired, the graphics I need to replace are ordered and already here.

So the plan is to have the plane COMPLETELY done with clear coat, graphics, custom wheel spats and smoke by next weekend.I am totally stoked.I am at work and do not have most of the build pix I took right now but will post more later if you are interested.

RE: Carden 37.5% Yak Build

SWEET Dan I'm glad you got yours in time for the Nall I'm still waiting for mine that's why there is no new pics of mine to post at this time. Maybe I'll have it by X-mas LOL [:@]. If you have more pics I would like to see them. Yours looks very nice that color layout really show up good in the air. I love that BIG YAK they rock!!

RE: Carden 37.5% Yak Build

I got the plane delivered to my house a couple days ago. The wing repair looks awsome, can't see any evidence of a repair. That's the good news. But.... I am still waiting for the wheel pants, Eric cut my origional pants up to make a mold for spats. Still waiting for them... Also I am waiting for Eric to get a micro mesh kit to fix my canopy. I got the plane back, but in the repair process he got clear coat and paper stuck to the outside of the canopy in about 8 droplet spots and a nasty scratch inside the canopy. Also, I took the cowl off to look at the repair from the prop shear and I found a few spots that need to be fiberglassed where the balsa duct work is cracked. The out side was re-painted but no repairs on the inside, so I called Eric and he told me he forgot to repair the inside. I am going to Home Depot to get some denatured alcohol to cut 30 min epoxy to glass the inside today. This will be my first glass work, at least it is on the inside and harder to see. Do not want to cast a dark shadow on Erics great build but I am a bit dissappointed in the repair. His build totally rocks. While it is almost flyable, I hope I can get this thing finished to my standards before Christmas. The cowl repair will hopfully save me needing to re paint at the end of the season so I want this done belore the 4th weekend so flying will not further damage the cowl. I still need to finish the smoke system install, re-do the pilot installation and do a little finish work on the deck landing for the canopy to get it to my own liking. Pictures might have to wait till after the 4th with what I want to accomplish this week...

RE: Carden 37.5% Yak Build

Well its been awhile and the flying season has come and gone. I was left without my Yak for the season but still had a great time flying my New Carden Edge 540 40% that Eric finished in time for the summer. But like all good planes they come to the end of the road if you get to carryed away with the 3D stuff. Well the Yak has finally left the birthing chamber of Watz Custom Aircraft late but well worth the wait. Eric pulled out all the stops and gave me a premo job on the build. I changed my mind on the engine and went with my trusty DA 150 on RE3 pipes with 12.5 inch headers. I do still have my headers for the 170 if I want to get SICK POWER in the bird. Its built to take it with heavy duty full lenth spars in the wings and Erics strong but light airframe building technics. I will be doing the Monokoting and painting on this one. She is going the way of the RED BULL. Here is some pics of the fuse. more pics to follow as it moves along.

RE: Carden 37.5% Yak Build

And more. Notice the lake off trussing under the Canopy deck. Eric uses a former and ties it into the engine box. This really makes the fuse stiff plus it makes it nice to work inside the plane. this has been battle tested by me on my other planes some that are 4 years old now and no problems to note.

RE: Carden 37.5% Yak Build

Here are some pics with the Cowl off. I still have work to do on the baffling and also want to add the cowl former to help keep the cowl shake down to a minimum. Notice where the wing tube goes into the fuse Eric allways mortis's in a ply plate in the fuse side so the fuse wont get dings in it over time from the tube insertion's. Time to get Monokoting!!!!

RE: Carden 37.5% Yak Build

Hey as anybody heard anything about the MonoKote and its manufacturing problems? Just wondering if I should go Ultracote. I know this will spark a big debate on the two coverings. I like MonoKote the best but I have heard there is a problem with it know that Dupont no longer makes it. I love the metal flake Blue but last year I had a lot of bubbling going on on the wings when I got it into the sun. Never could get them to lay down and stop gassing. The Monokote job was perfect but the MonoKote was junk at least that roll.